Depression = sabatoge

reachingunder120

Does anyone else deal with depression that sabatoges their efforts? This past year I did really well but when the depression starts creeping in as it has in the last month so does the weight gain/lack of caring. I know I shouldn't blame all of this on depression and that ultimately I'm in control of my own life but sometimes it's hard to be motivated when it's hard to get out of bed? Anyone understand this by any chance? I guess I'm just looking for anyone who might understand/have experience with weight/depression going hand in hand.

Please if you have something negative to say about depression being weak or something - try not to if you can. Thanks in advance. But ultimately were all free to say what we want and by putting this out here I understand I am putting myself out here for critism/comments. And I am getting professional help for this issue (depression) mostly just wondering if anyone else out there ever feels that their depression or maybe anxiety/negative emotions holds them back from achieving their goals as fast/well as they could.

lemurcat12

Yeah, it's something I struggle with. It's good you are getting help.

kbmnurse

Have you tried increasing your exercise when those feelings creep in?

vespiquenn

I have found that exercising really does help. Do I want to do it all the time? Of course not. But scheduling my workouts and treating them as I would work or appointments, that I can't just skip them, helps. I also workout after work, which helps because I don't like getting out of bed. So getting up even earlier is not an option.

Along with being on medication, exercise seemed to help quite a bit with me.

strong_curves

There's a long depression and weight loss thread somewhere in here.

Also, you might do better to post this in the support forum in order to get better replies.

reachingunder120

kbmnurse wrote: »

Have you tried increasing your exercise when those feelings creep in?

Ah yes my biggest coping skills are exercise, distraction, doing the stuff I need to do (like work and classes) and talking to my friends on the phone/texting/in person. On the best/good days those work well.

Have you by any chance found any specific kind of exercise to be most helpful or would you say just the exercise you like best is most helpful?

VintageFeline

I have bipolar type 2 (along with a bunch of other mental health conditions) and depression is a pretty much permanent feature in my life and is a massive reason why I became so overweight. Depression is a dirty little liar and does its very best to sabotage everything. I don't really know what changed this time for me, just a whole outlook change about food I think. I got very very unwell during December but still managed to lose a pound or two. Exercise for sure slowed to a crawl with two weeks where I did nothing.

What I think helps during these times is being very regimented with my food. I cannot cook really when very bad so I buy ready meals but aim for the best ones with the lowest calorie values. I do my very very best not to buy anything like chips/crisps, chocolate, cake etc. It's what I desperately crave and want to binge on but I cannot have it anywhere near me when at the bottom of the pit. And I just keep logging. So if I do binge I can see the damage and try not to make it any worse.

Finally, exercise has become part of my coping strategy in place of food. It's not always easy, as I said there were two weeks where I couldn't force myself to do anything but every day I keep trying. And eventually, I get back on the horse, even if it's just 15 minutes once a week. I didn't run for a month either but carried on with my workouts at home.

So I guess this is a big round about way of saying creating a very small but manageable routine keeps me going. If I achieve nothing else I have logged. And if I throw in some exercise too, bonus.

reachingunder120

strong_curves wrote: »

There's a long depression and weight loss thread somewhere in here.
Also, you might do better to post this in the support forum in order to get better replies.

Oh ok I did not realize. Thank you.

caffeinatedcami

The thread is called "Depression and Weight Loss." Use the search function. It's worth a look! There are a lot of people in the same boat as you when it comes to depression. I hope you find tools that work for you whether it's medication, therapy, exercise, or something else.

nroznovs

vespiquenn wrote: »

Do I want to do it all the time? Of course not. But scheduling my workouts and treating them as I would work or appointments, that I can't just skip them, helps.

I also struggle with depression and this has really been key. Working out is a set appointment on my daily calendar and blocking out a specific time for it each day has helped. Some days I really hate dragging myself out of bed to work out, but I always feel better afterwards.

HippySkoppy

Depression has plagued me on and off throughout my life, thankfully not always severe but there nevertheless like an unwelcome house guest that just won't leave.

I can only speak for myself and the strategies that I have found helpful over time and at 53 most of the time my moods are reasonably stable and I can now identify the feelings that come before a sink down and try to mitigate the fallout.

Over the time I have been on meds. with varying success (many added to anxiety levels which was an equally awful trade-off.....so patience and persistence at finding the right med for you is par for the course, if this is the road you need to travel.

I REALLY hated the side-effects.....my weight ballooned due to me turning into a foraging carb fiend and during this time I found it hard to moderate my drinking (I had used alcohol as a coping strategy...a sucky one, but sometimes I felt it was all I had). I would entreat you to try to limit alcohol....I found it only made things worse and exacerbated my illness.....get outside help with this if you feel the need.

My present situation is such that I have developed Lupus and have some neurological damage and repercussions from that.....my moods fluctuate and steroid treatment (esp. the decreasing of levels) has really done another number on stable moods. Exercise for me is very limited.....I used to walk a lot and found that to be a life saver at times and a great mood lifter.....now that is off the cards and I have had to develop other strategies.

I really believe in the power of doing something for yourself each day.....it doesn't have to take a large chunk of time or if it seems impossible then there is nothing wrong with changing your goals....they are yours after all. Think along the lines of what might bring you peace and joy.

For me turning away from vigorous exercise to more gentle pursuits helped (seemed to lower the anxiety I got after the session).....Yoga, Tai Chi, strength training, massage, gentle long walks (rarely) and my saviour meditation and adopting mindfulness around my own thought patterns have taught me a great deal, now I don't feel so scared of myself anymore, if that makes any sense.

Forgive me for my rambling and long post.

Do whatever you can to help yourself. Focus on the small steps....accurate logging. Nutritious foods. Adequate hydration. Relaxation and time to re-coup. Maybe avoidance of alcohol for a while.

Remember every day that you are up is a victory. The end of every day that you have gotten through is another. Sometimes taking the World on in increments too can help when you are feeling particularly overwhelmed.

kshama2001

reachingunder120 wrote: »

kbmnurse wrote: »

Have you tried increasing your exercise when those feelings creep in?

Ah yes my biggest coping skills are exercise, distraction, doing the stuff I need to do (like work and classes) and talking to my friends on the phone/texting/in person. On the best/good days those work well.

Have you by any chance found any specific kind of exercise to be most helpful or would you say just the exercise you like best is most helpful?

My go-to exercise for depression is anything cardiovascular outside, but that's something I really like to do anyway.

When I'm depressed, I have to force myself to exercise. I'm always glad I did. Walking out the door is the hardest part. It's harder when the sun is behind clouds.

tara_means_star

I don't struggle so much with depression but I do with anxiety and I do, at times, notice a connection between struggling with anxiety and wanting to comfort myself with food. One thing that has helped me is making a big emphasis on health in my life rather than just weight loss. So when I exercise, my emphasis is on supporting myself. I do a gentle yoga that focuses on relaxation--I don't worry about how many calories I burn, I don't even log it as exercise. I focus on foods that will help me feel healthy, rather than foods that will make me feel comforted immediately, then guilty later for overindulging. It's a subtle shift of perspective, but I've found it really helpful. In addition to these, part of focusing on health for me means doing things to relieve stress--reading, coloring, walking, listening to music, dancing, taking a bubble bath, etc...it makes it much more organic for me to focus on using food for health when I'm using daily life for health, too.

RachGoff1984

I too have experienced many of the same food related emotions and behaviours as you guys above.

One thing that I still really struggle with is how slowly the weight comes off, and this impacts on emotional eating.

I'm on anti-depressants as well as other medication for another health condition... and I'm sure that these things are not best friends to weight loss, energy levels or the ability to 'just do it'. There is so much more that I (and I'm sure lots of other people with medical conditions) have to take into account when sustaining ourselves during our waking hours.

I once had someone tell me to think of myself as a marathon runner in a world of sprinters. Slow and steady wins the race.

Anyone else have words of encouragement - for me and others?

KathyApplebaum

I find cardio helps a lot with depression. The trick is to get cardio firmly on your schedule before the next down period. By the time you recognize that you need the cardio lift, at least for me, it's at the spot where I can't make myself start it. My running group helps a lot with this -- most times it's easier to just go than to deal with all the people texting me to ask if everything is okay because I missed a run.

owen1826

I like how everyone is encouraging exercise, but the problem is, or at least for me, is that I become dependent on that and when I can't exercise I have nothing to help me. Ugh.

schibsted750

owen1826 wrote: »

when I can't exercise

What do you mean by this?

lthames0810

I'm another one. I've gone off my meds. I've been eating obscenely for six months. I'm only able to sleep for a few hours a night. I weigh more than ever in my life. Basically feel like s**t.

Perversely, I don't even want to feel better.

Jaywalker_7

I too suffer from depression and anxiety. I agree 100% with exercise being helpful, however I also struggle with actually doing it. It has helped immensely to create a strict schedule like some others have mentioned and have it incorporated into daily life as if it were work or a doctors appointment. I personally find that working out hard and really breaking a good sweat even for 20-30 minutes is much more beneficial mentally and emotionally for me than a low intensity workout. Even if I took a stroll for an hour, I feel like the harder 30 min workout helps me more. Not sure why but for me it does. I'm not going to say I have it all figured out...2 years ago I started my journey, lost 85 lbs in the first year, and have gained back 25 the last 6 months while battling another more severe depression. So I'm taking it day by day. But I've forced myself to stick to the exercise so I don't completely lose all of my sanity. Hang in there and keep on truckin' my friend.

schibsted750

Jaywalker_7 wrote: »

Even if I took a stroll for an hour, I feel like the harder 30 min workout helps me more. Not sure why but for me it does.

Look up a book called Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John Ratey. It contains the answers you seek.

tara_means_star

If you think exercise might help but struggle to use it because of depression you could consider finding someone to exercise with. That accountability has encouraged me to do a good bit of exercise that I otherwise would not have done. Exercise is a great coping skill but don't think it's the only one. Music is great, creating something like a picture or some other craft, watching something really funny on TV, talking to someone...those can also be used to help pull yourself together and keep progressing toward your goal.

7elizamae

I'm so sorry you're having to deal with depression. It is so difficult. I've been through a few mild bouts and one severe episode.

I agree with everyone else about exercise -- as vigorous as you can manage. I feel best if I do something every day that really gets me sweating.

I'd also suggest creating a really structured schedule for your days and forcing yourself to stick to it. Don't stay in bed. Don't sit and sit and sit on the couch. Hopefully you have someone who can help you be accountable to a schedule, because, as you know, depression will likely cause you to want to do as little as possible.

My doctor suggested walking outside in the daylight for at least fifteen minutes a day -- especially in the winter. This was for the light, not for exercise, but of course it's a dose of both.

Try to schedule something you really enjoy each day, even if it's just watching a show you like. I had to make myself get together with friends, but that was so encouraging.

And, finally, if you're really feeling desperate, get yourself in to the doctor. No shame in using medication if it gets you back on your feet. It worked wonders for me and I only wished I had gotten over my stupid pride and started it sooner.

All the best to you. Don't give up! You'll get through it and feel good again. You will.

sndrd49

The struggle is that depression is often anger turned inwards. We know that working out and eating well will make us feel etter, so the depression fights for us to do the opposite. Getting otside and going for a walk can feel impossible some days. Try to be kind to yourself. There are better days ahead.

CKossum

My depression definitely sabotages me. It's more of the "it'll never change. You know you'll fail, so why even try?" thoughts that do it. I'll hit a round of motivation, go out, exercise and lose weight, but then the self-doubt and hatred creep back in and it all gets blown.

N0EXCUSE

I am recovered from bi-polar. And yes it is one of the main reasons I got so big. Exercise really does help because there are no snacks at the gym (seriously, it gets me out of the danger zone -my home!)

steph_vt

My depression is one of the reasons i actually wanted to start exercising again, i started gaining weight and stress eating because i just couldnt motivate myself. But i know that exercise and good eating habits have proven to be quite helpful in battling depression. Im working on myself as a person physically and mentally.

angelexperiment

I've bipolar2 and undx borderline. I think walking is the best thing I ever found for mood stabilizer! Sunshine for depression! And meditation/ yoga for balance (emotional) also making myself to exercise as I feel depressed or to organize/clean best way for me to break a depression!

owen1826

schibsted750 wrote: »

owen1826 wrote: »

when I can't exercise

What do you mean by this?

Sick. Or injured. Or just a general necessary rest day.